HAR §8-206.1-17. Reference material and requests

(a) Reference service is provided to library customers who come in person, call via the telephone, place a request through other public libraries, submit a request through electronic communication, or mail or telecopy a request. (b) Reference material may be photocopied and mailed to library customers agreeing to pay the enhanced service fees specified in chapter 8-206.2. (c) Requests for financial, medical, legal, tax, or consumer information shall be provided from published sources and no opinions or interpretations shall be provided by library staff. (d) Requests shall be limited to three items per person at one time (e.g., three listings in the telephone directory or three definitions in the dictionary). (e) All reference material may be restricted for use in the library. Public libraries may not allow a library customer to borrow reference material except under the following circumstances: (1) When the copy machine in the library is not working; (2) A library customer requests a short loan period to copy a picture in color and there is a nearby copy agency that has that capability; or (3) The library manager or designee determines that there is a compelling reason to permit a loan. The library manager or designee shall determine the length of the reference loan period. The library customer shall provide a valid library card. A library customer shall be assessed any charges for any damage or loss caused by the customer to the reference material. The charges shall be applied to the library customer’s library card account. (f) If reference material is loaned to a library customer, all rules, terms, and conditions applicable to the loan of circulating library material shall apply, unless otherwise specified in this section. (g) If reference material is also identified by the library manager as desk reference library material, the library customer shall provide a library card or acceptable picture identification to use the item in the public library. Acceptable picture identification is limited to an unexpired driver’s license, a current student identification card, or a government issued identification card such as a military ID or a state ID card. The library card or picture identification will be returned to the library customer upon return of the desk reference material. A library customer shall be assessed any charges for any damage or loss caused by the customer to the desk reference material. The charges shall be applied to the library customer’s library card or billed directly to the customer. (h) Heavily used, rare, or fragile reference material may be restricted to use in the public library where it is located. A bibliography may be prepared at the request of a library customer provided there are available resources within the system as determined by the library manager. (i) When a bibliography is provided, credit shall be given to the individual preparing the bibliography, the public library, and the system. A bibliography shall be dated. [Eff 1/2/96; am and comp 1/7/99; am and comp 05/24/2010] (Auth: HRS §§302A-1120, 312-1) (Imp: HRS §312-1)